Pakistan’s Star Pacer Joins San Francisco Unicorns for MLC 2026

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has joined the San Francisco Unicorns for the 2026 Major League Cricket (MLC) season, continuing his long association with the Bay Area franchise.

The Unicorns confirmed Haris Rauf as one of their returning international players after the MLC retention window closed on March 22, 2026. The Pakistan pacer has been part of the franchise since the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2023 and remains one of their key overseas players.

Haris Rauf enjoyed his best MLC campaign last season, taking 17 wickets in just eight matches. He finished the tournament as the second-highest wicket-taker, only one wicket behind Xavier Bartlett, despite playing three fewer games than the Australian pacer.

Overall, Rauf has taken 28 wickets in 22 matches across three MLC seasons at an average of 25.64. His record makes him one of the most successful overseas bowlers in the franchise’s history and a major part of San Francisco’s pace attack.

The official San Francisco Unicorns squad lists Haris Rauf as a bowler for the new season. The team also features captain Matt Short, Finn Allen, Ravi Ashwin, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Hammad Azam, Hassan Khan, Brody Couch, Ollie Peake, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Zia-ul-Haq, Muhammad Ilyas, and Sanjay Krishnamurthi.

The 2026 MLC season, which will be the fourth edition of the competition, is scheduled to begin on June 18. San Francisco Unicorns will open their campaign against Los Angeles Knight Riders on June 19 at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.

The Unicorns are still looking for their first MLC title. They finished as runners-up in 2024 after losing the final to Washington Freedom and reached the playoffs again in 2025 before being knocked out by MI New York.

Haris Rauf’s return gives San Francisco continuity in their pace attack as they look to go one step further in the upcoming season.